Indoor Toddler Activities for the Winter

The cold months are upon us! If your toddler is anything like mine, she is constantly asking to go outside. With the temperatures dropping, I have been experimenting with more indoor/cold weather friendly activities so she isn’t bored. If you didn’t know, I also work from home so we are all about the activities over here! I have several indoor toddler activities for the winter, so I hope you get an idea or two.

Learning Games are the best use of time for toddlers!

Toddlers love to learn. You have probably noticed they are watching you more intently, asking questions (over and over), and becoming more curious about everyday things. There are many ways you can incorporate learning but in a fun way.

Counting Cups: I labeled ten cups 1-10 and put them on the table for my toddler. You can use any small object like pom poms, rocks, letters, dried beans, anything that can fit in your cups. I then demonstrated putting one object in the number one cup, two in number two… She had a blast playing but also had to really think about this. It was a really fun activity and didn’t cost anything to make.

Painting: This is such a great self-expression activity for toddlers! If you are okay with a little bit of mess, I urge you to try this with your little ones. Tip: I lay down the cardboard flat so she can paint on top of that. The majority of the time I let her paint with watercolors and go crazy because it is so easy to clean up. I have also found random objects for her to paint, including rocks, foam crafts, cups, anything you don’t mind giving up.

If you want to take it to another level, cut out a few shapes and let your toddler paint them and their paper or an object and let them glue stick them on! It is so fun to see what they come up with, and she could do this for an hour or more.

I understand some parents aren’t up for the mess, especially if you are using this as a “keep busy while I do stuff” activity. My dad bought her a doodle mat for her birthday that is completely mess-free. It came with markers you fill with water, and the mat works like magic and will disappear after it’s dried.

During the summer, my toddler could spend all day in her splash pad. My alternative indoor toddler activity for the winter, baths! Baths don’t have to just be for cleaning, they can be for play, too. She has several rubber bath toys, cups, and of course bubbles to keep her happy for a good time. She could probably spend hours in there if I let her! Baths can be a great way to let your kids play and also get their energy out. If you have a messy little one, try this out in between lunch and nap! Not only is it a great way to get cleaned up from food, but also they will get tired out for their upcoming nap.

We are very into music time, and this can absolutely be an activity! Songs like “head, shoulders, knees, and toes”, “monster shuffle” by Pinkfong, “wheels on the bus” are all great active music for your toddler to enjoy. She has a lot of fun listening to these on our Alexa, but even just playing it from your phone or tv works, too!

As I stated earlier, at this stage they are watching your every move. Use this to your advantage and have them help you in day to day tasks. She will help me put away her silverware while we unload dishes, move clothes into the dryer, and throw away trash (my personal favorite). Include your little ones where you can, and praise them for being such a great big helper. This is probably one of the more beneficial activities for the parents. But, your little one will love spending time with you no matter what! 

Along the lines of everyday tasks, my toddlers love kitchen items. Let them play with some bowls, measuring spoons, anything that isn’t breakable. It’s fun to explore new things, and let’s be real kids gravitate to mundane household items more than their own toys pretty often!

Dress up has more recently become an interest of hers, so I rearranged her room so her dress up clothes and items are accessible. Don’t be afraid to get down to their level and play with them! She loves to make me “food” and role play, and I think encouraging this kind of playing is so beneficial to their growth.

Lastly, pay attention to what your child enjoys. If you see them take an interest in, for example, colors think of different activities that can incorporate colors! Think of how they can color, match items to it, play I spy around your home, or even organize toys by color. 

There are so many low/no-cost ways to keep your toddler entertained, so don’t feel like you have to buy new things if they start to show less interest in what they have. Just find ways to switch it up and make it a whole new game! My last tip is to cycle your toys. Keep several out they show interest in and then every few weeks change them out for different toys! This will keep them “new” to them and be a fun routine, and keep your sanity by keeping things at a minimum, hopefully!